I think it is sometimes best to let things sit and ruminate and process before you start talking to the world at large about them. Granted, this could be a lame excuse for keeping everyone (but let's just be honest, it's really just my mom and myself) in the dark about this semester's happenings, but I'm going to go with it because it was my last real semester and I had to drink it in.
One thing that became consuming in the best and most lovely way possible was my capstone directing project. It's one of the finale projects we theatre ed-ers are required to do and I couldn't have loved it more. I won't really talk about what the show is about (except that I think it's a story about trying to make a life out of your circumstances where you recognize yourself and feel safe) or even the name (because I'm one paranoid femme about copyright whatnot. Even though NO laws were broken in the making of this beautiful, collaborative project. I just like being safe about things). What I
will say is that directing this project was such a profoundly fun and meaningful experience. I love directing. Who knew? I think if you'd asked me four years ago what was most intimidating about the prospect of theatre-making in general, I would have first said electricity, power tools and then directing. But boy howdy, I was wrong. It's not scary, it's like all the fun bits of teaching poured into one process. Probably that should be illegal it's so perfect. You ask questions, lead people and gather everyone's ideas. I definitely could not and would not have done this without my lovely actors (to whom I was directly lead by the Spirit). They made the characters I cared so much about come to life in a way I couldn't even have really imagined because each person's performance had so much to do with what it really means to be that actor in real life. Maybe that doesn't make sense. But every rehearsal (where the actors were perpetually in character) I feel like I got to have a peak into their souls. That is a privilege and a responsibility. And I felt that responsibility. I think we all did. It ended up being this thing where everyone took care of each other and was just so invested in the positive outcome of the show.
Look at me, blabbing blabbing blabbing when I said I wouldn't really say much but rather I'd show you pictures (we're all a bit shocked: a post
and pictures all in one day). These beautiful production photos were taken by one of my best friends, she'll say she has a great camera (which is 100% true) but she's also a great photographer. She got the cast to feel comfortable with her taking pictures of them, something I honestly wasn't sure they'd go for. Anyway, without any further gilding of the lily of the valley: here's one of the joys of my final semester life.
